novalis comments on What is moral foundation theory good for? - Less Wrong

9 Post author: novalis 12 August 2012 05:03AM

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Comment author: wedrifid 13 August 2012 05:36:18PM *  4 points [-]

Also, of course, the term "alpha" does not in any way describe human behavior in Western society.

There are social groups within which there is a one clear, overwhelmingly dominant individual. That individual is referred to as the 'alpha'. Describing that kind of group/tribe/pack role is what the letter was adopted for in the first place.

(I would agree that alpha and especially beta are being misused in the grandparent.)

Comment author: novalis 13 August 2012 05:42:49PM 1 point [-]

In animal groups, alphas control mating (which is what this whole discussion is about). That is rarely true in Western human groups.